Scroll compressor with fluid injection feature

Abstract

A compressor may include a shell assembly, a first scroll member located within the shell assembly and including a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending from the first end plate, and a second scroll member located within the shell assembly, supported for orbital movement relative to the first scroll member and including a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending from the second end plate and meshingly engaged with the first spiral wrap to form compression pockets. The first scroll member may define a fluid injection port and the second scroll member may define a passage in communication with the fluid injection port and at least one of the compression pockets to provide pressurized vapor from the fluid injection port to the at least one of the compression pockets.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A compressor comprising:
 a shell assembly; 
 a first scroll member located within said shell assembly and including a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending from said first end plate; 
 a second scroll member located within said shell assembly, supported for orbital movement relative to said first scroll member and including a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending from said second end plate and meshingly engaged with said first spiral wrap to form compression pockets, said first scroll member defining a fluid injection port and said second scroll member defining a passage in communication with said fluid injection port and at least one of said compression pockets to provide pressurized vapor from said fluid injection port to said at least one of said compression pockets; and 
 a drive shaft engaged with said second scroll member, said fluid injection port extends through said first end late and said passage extend through said second end plate and is intermittently in communication with said fluid injection port. 
 
     
     
       2. The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein initial communication between said fluid injection port and said passage occurs just after an outermost one of said compression pockets is formed by being sealed off from a suction pressure region of said shell assembly. 
     
     
       3. The compressor of  claim 2 , wherein communication between said fluid injection port and said passage is terminated after ninety degrees of rotation of said drive shaft after the initial communication between said fluid injection port and said passage occurs. 
     
     
       4. The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein communication between said fluid injection port and said passage is terminated after ninety degrees of rotation of said drive shaft after an outermost one of said compression pockets is formed by being sealed off from a suction pressure region of said shell assembly. 
     
     
       5. The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said first scroll member is axially fixed relative to said shell assembly and said second scroll member is axially displaceable relative to said shell assembly and said first scroll member. 
     
     
       6. A compressor comprising:
 a shell assembly; 
 a first scroll member located within said shell assembly and including a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending from said first end plate; and 
 a second scroll member located within said shell assembly, supported for orbital movement relative to said first scroll member and including a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending from said second end plate and meshingly engaged with said first spiral wrap to form compression pockets, said first scroll member defining a fluid injection port and said second scroll member defining a passage in communication with said fluid injection port and at least one of said compression pockets to provide pressurized valor from said fluid injection port to said at least one of said compression pockets, 
 wherein said passage includes a first axial passage extending partially through said second end plate and in communication with said fluid injection port, a radial passage extending from said first axial passage through said second end plate and a second axial passage extending from said radial passage and in communication with said at least one of said compression pockets. 
 
     
     
       7. The compressor of  claim 6 , further comprising a third axial passage extending from said radial passage and in communication with another one of said compression pockets. 
     
     
       8. A compressor comprising:
 a shell assembly; 
 a first scroll member located within said shell assembly and including a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending from said first end plate; 
 a second scroll member located within said shell assembly, supported for orbital movement relative to said first scroll member and including a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending from said second end plate and meshingly engaged with said first spiral wrap to form compression pockets, said first scroll member defining a fluid injection port and said second scroll member defining a passage in communication with said fluid injection port and at least one of said compression pockets to provide pressurized vapor from said fluid injection port to said at least one of said compression pockets; 
 a vapor injection system including a pressurized vapor source in communication with said fluid injection port; and 
 a drive shaft engaged with said second scroll member, said fluid injection port extends through said first end plate and said passage extends through said second end plate and is intermittently in communication with said fluid injection port. 
 
     
     
       9. The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein said shell assembly includes an end cap and said vapor injection system includes a fluid line extending through said end cap and providing said pressurized vapor source to said fluid injection port. 
     
     
       10. The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein initial communication between said fluid injection port and said passage occurs just after an outermost one of said compression pockets is formed by being sealed off from a suction pressure region of said shell assembly. 
     
     
       11. The compressor of  claim 10 , wherein communication between said fluid injection port and said passage is terminated after ninety degrees of rotation of said drive shaft after the initial communication between said fluid injection port and said passage occurs. 
     
     
       12. The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein communication between said fluid injection port and said passage is terminated after ninety degrees of rotation of said drive shaft after an outermost one of said compression pockets is formed by being sealed off from a suction pressure region of said shell assembly. 
     
     
       13. The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein said first scroll member is axially fixed relative to said shell assembly and said second scroll member is axially displaceable relative to said shell assembly and said first scroll member.